Retailers count on holiday sales for about a fifth of their annual business.

ShopperTrak expects sales at electronics and appliance stores to rise 2 percent, while sales at apparel and accessory stores are expected to be up 2.8 percent.

Retailers will have less time this year to capture shoppers' attention, with only 25 days between Black Friday on Nov. 29 and Christmas, compared to 31 days in that period in 2012. Consumers will have four weekends -- not five like last year -- to go shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Because Hanukkah starts the day before Thanksgiving, 11 days earlier than last year, promotions might start as early as the day after Halloween, ShopperTrak says.

Retailers need to hit the ground running at the beginning of November, Martin said.